And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:12-16)
Ananias didn’t just pray for Saul to receive his sight; he used a tangible act of faith to initiate what God wanted to do for Paul by laying hands on him.
Laying on of hands is one of the principal doctrines of Christ and is something all believers are called to practice and participate in. Many denominations no longer practice the laying on of hands because they don't understand it. Laying on of hands doesn't work because of the extraordinary miraculous power of a person's hands. It works when faith is released at the point of contact.
In Acts 9:12-16, Ananias had to believe in the doctrine of laying on of hands and that God would do something supernatural; otherwise, he would have been walking into a death trap to meet with this man known as a killer of Christians.
God gave Ananias insight about what Saul was going to do, stating that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear my name before the Gentiles. Ananias did not merely see Saul healed through laying on of hands, but also released his faith for the ministry anointing that God had upon Saul.
Practical Application – Be bold to ask people when God places it on your heart if they would be willing for you to lay hands on them and pray. Laying on of hands is an essential foundation of our faith.
Hebrews 6:1; Mark 16:18